volcano
Nomad
Posts: 348
Registered: 3-5-2007
Location: Cave Junction, Oregon and Boca Del Salado area, Ea
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Mood: always pining to be there
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manifest construction cost
is it o.k. to not record construction costs prior to completion?.....i.e. my construction is taking years to complete........raw block walls are
up..probably 2 more years till stucco finished. Am wondering if I am obligated to record costs thusfar with the catastro office.
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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3512
Registered: 8-27-2003
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Volcano: I don't know the answer to your post but I bet LongLegsinLaPaz does. Maybe U2U her if you don't get a response.
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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
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Volcano....it may vary depending on WHERE your construction's located. I know that in La Paz area, you're supposed to renew
the building permit if the work isn't substantially completed & isn't closed out a year after issuance. I know there's a fine for not closing out
or renewing/extending a building permit, but I don't know how stiff the fine is or how soon they impose a fine after the 1-year mark.
Since it sounds like you're running on Mexican time for your anticipated completion schedule, it might be wise to go talk with Catastro. If your
place is enclosed (walls, roof, doors & windows) but needs finish detail, they consider that livable & you could close it out & manifest
current value today....then after you completely finish, go back & have it re-valued based on the additional work done. This can be a somewhat
spendy process, but it's legal & there's an existing process in place to do this. Cost is based on the person who does the re-valuation's fee
(restricted by an approved list of people who are authorized to do this), plus Catastro fees, which are a percentage of the $$ of increased value.
Where you are might apply different rules & can definitely apply different fines/penalties.
How much did you bet on me, Santiago?
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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3512
Registered: 8-27-2003
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| Quote: |
How much did you bet on me, Santiago? |
Not nearly enough.
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volcano
Nomad
Posts: 348
Registered: 3-5-2007
Location: Cave Junction, Oregon and Boca Del Salado area, Ea
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Mood: always pining to be there
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Since it sounds like you're running on Mexican time for your anticipated completion schedule
L.Legs.....thanks for your great answer. It's my pocketbook that is running on manana time, and my ability to be there working on it as well. Going
soon for a month. It's out on eastcape, south of Pulmo and Frailles. I use the San Jose office for Catastro. So do I go up to the window where they
are not just taking payments? it's a tad intimidating but they have been helpful in the past.
One major glitch I am going to take heat for is that my contractor didn't pay the Seguro Social for his workers..but I do have a signed and witnessed
contract that says it was his reponsibility. He turned out to be a flake and eventually left town.
My house still needs tile, texture , floor finished, and color....but otherwise..it is whole.....I'll be doing that all over time.
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
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are you doing your own work? labor etc?
i thot you can't do that - have to hire locals or a contractor.
just being nosey i guess.
always curious on the various processes.
want to be doing it one day. i dream of east cape livin'
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
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Volcano, since I'm in La Paz, I've never dealt with any other office of Catastro nor Seguro Social. If I were you, I'd go into Catastro in San Jose
& ask....throw yourself at their mercy! Explain about your contractor, etc.
Take your contract, the builders presupuesto, any & all documentation that you have which can prove that you were acting in good faith & that
the builder is the bad guy here!
The Seguro Social problem is one I'm intimately familiar with....UNFORTUNATELY! My
first builder did not pay SS, plus he manifested my finished construction at a value of approximately $15,000 pesos! This is how I found out about the re-valuation
process! But I also had a contract that clearly stated that he charged me SS & he was responsible for paying SS. When I sold the casa after 5
years, I went to SS to make sure everything was in order so the buyer wouldn't be caught by any expected problems. Good thing I did, because that's
the point in time I discovered how badly the builder had screwed me. He'd avoided paying taxes to Hacienda by registering the finished construction
value at $15,000 pesos. But he forgot he'd given me signed receipts for each & every cash payment he received from me. I had a stack of signed
receipts that totaled over $176K USD. I only dealt with the SS office, but when they realized the extent of his actions (or lack thereof!) they asked
if I had a problem with them taking copies of my contract, his original presupuesto, the signed receipts for cash & the Termination de Obra
paperwork to pass onto Hacienda. They gave me a letter stating that I was not liable for the SS payments they were going after him. Which was fine
with me!! I know they put a lien on his business & hauled his butt to Mexico City to face the music. I gave them irrefutable proof. This is
the ONLY time I've gone into ANY governmental agency & THEY bit the bullet on coping costs rather than making me pay to have copies made!
If I couldn't have done the re-valuation, I'd have been looking at capital gains taxes of roughly $75K (equivalent USD). The $275K it sold for minus
the recorded value of $1,500 would have left me paying 27% on the $273.5K difference! It cost me about $5K to bring it up to value. Money well
spent!
But keep in mind that I was dealing the agencies in La Paz. I know nothing about how the San Jose people are to work with. Technically, by law, YOU
the property owner is liable for SS; the builder is not, but the fact that you have a signed contract with him accepting responsibility is in your
favor. Also, if you go to them upfront & volunteer the information & explain the situation, I think they'd be more willing to work with you.
If you just try to lay low & hope to fly under their radar, they'd be less likely to resolve things in your favor.
I'm hoping that someone who has worked with the San Jose people will jump in here with some factual information.
Mike, you can work on your own casa, you just can't work on someone else's property....legally!
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Woooosh
Banned
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Registered: 1-28-2007
Location: Rosarito Beach
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| Quote: | Originally posted by volcano
is it o.k. to not record construction costs prior to completion?.....i.e. my construction is taking years to complete........raw block walls are
up..probably 2 more years till stucco finished. Am wondering if I am obligated to record costs thusfar with the catastro office.
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I hope this isn't a hijack... but I thought you didn't have to pay until the construction was complete.
My architect told me the reason so much re-bar remains untrimmed on Mexican rooftops is so the building will not be officially finished- so no taxes
due yet. That right?
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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volcano
Nomad
Posts: 348
Registered: 3-5-2007
Location: Cave Junction, Oregon and Boca Del Salado area, Ea
Member Is Offline
Mood: always pining to be there
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manifest construction
| Quote: | Originally posted by capt. mike
are you doing your own work? labor etc?
i thot you can't do that - have to hire locals or a contractor.
just being nosey i guess.
always curious on the various processes.
want to be doing it one day. i dream of east cape livin' |
thanks guys and gal..I will try to get my courage up for a day at the catastro....paperwork in hand. Get the tissues out!
(sob story)
I'm just doing stucco, tile and color myself...over time....the rest was hired up..but my finacial well is dry.....I doubt they will arrest me for
working on my own home..i have certainly seen lots of others doing it.
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oldlady
Banned
Posts: 1714
Registered: 10-31-2005
Location: BCS
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Researched Do It Yourself with 2 lawyers, 3 contractors....on your own house it's legal...Gracias a Dios. You won't be arrested.
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volcano
Nomad
Posts: 348
Registered: 3-5-2007
Location: Cave Junction, Oregon and Boca Del Salado area, Ea
Member Is Offline
Mood: always pining to be there
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manifest construction cost
| Quote: | Originally posted by oldlady
Researched Do It Yourself with 2 lawyers, 3 contractors....on your own house it's legal...Gracias a Dios. You won't be arrested.
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o.k. Ladies..two more questions:
I was told by my neighbor down there that I should go to public works, not catastro, to retire my building permit and register my costs. Does that
sound right?
And..is there any way to claim one's own labor, or since I'm not a citizen is that not a cost I can write in to my overhead?
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